‘People don’t want to see the prisoners getting up in the morning and going to get an education’: Governor’s verdict on hit Aylesbury jail TV documentary watched by 5.5 million people

Aylesbury Young Offenders' Institution governor Kevin Leggett

The governor of Aylesbury Young Offenders Institution has given his reaction to an ITV documentary which went behind his prison walls.

Her Majesty’s Prison: Aylesbury aired on Monday night with more than 5.5 million people tuning in to see just how volatile the 17-to-21-year-old inmates can often be.

Governor Kevin Leggett said: “You have always got to think the producers are here in the jail for four months. So part of it is always going to be sensationalised.

“They are going to condense it into a 44 minute programme. People don’t want to see prisoners getting up in the morning and going to get an education.

“In the end I thought it was quite a good piece. The staff came across very well.”

The first episode closely follows the arrival of 18-year-old serial offender Caspean Hogg who has transferred from Lancaster Farms Young Offenders Institution.

Speaking on the programme, Hogg, who was locked up for a number of serious assaults and by his own admission once bit a man through the chest, says that ‘ever since I was seven, eight, nine, I’ve always wanted to kill people’ before adding: “My dad ended up getting murdered when I was six and it’s following me round in my head.”

Mr Leggett added: “I think he was an absolute Godsend for the production team.”

Within hours of arriving Hogg, along with Liam Brennan and another inmate, had taken a prisoner hostage. The trio barricaded themselves in the victim’s cell, knocked him out and threatened him with rape before eventually giving up peacefully.

Throughout the episode there are frequent clips of violence and induction officer Leanne Morgan said in the programme: “The violent incidents that do take place are very, very serious now, a lot of weapons are used.

Mr Leggett said due to the violent nature of the documentary some staff and prisoners have now been having to reassure friends and family it is not like that every day.

The governor said he was also pleased by the balance displayed in the documentary, showing how well-behaved prisoners such as Josh Haugh are rewarded.